An individual who spiked candy with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys who were nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
The defendant played a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge Ruben had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She said the defendant proceeded to play the "treat game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the events.
The prosecutor said the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the authorities once more.
She stated the man then played the "sweet game" in a space of five minors.
